Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

The Saint Leo University (SLU) men’s basketball team gave away its chance at sole possession of the regular season Sunshine State Conference (SSC) title against Eckerd College Feb. 23.

The 11th-ranked Lions (20-6, 12-4 SSC) struggled to contain Tritons (18-6, 10-5) forward Darrien Mack (26 points) and couldn’t overcome foul trouble, falling 69-68 in front of a packed crowd home stadium.

“I didn’t think we did a good job getting ourselves to the line,” said second-year SLU coach Lance Randall. “We’ve shot 100 or so more free throws than our opponents this season and we were shooting the ball well, but I thought there were some stretches there where we went away from getting it to the rim.”

Eckerd finished 12-of-15 from the free throw line, while the Lions were 1-of-5.

The squads combined to shoot 46 percent from the field in the first half, but the Tritons gained the upper-hand at the break thanks to a 10-2 run and the physical presence of the 6-foot-7, 200-pound Mack, who shot five for seven in the first 20 minutes.

“I thought they came out in the first half, and they were just more physical,” Randall said. “Give Eckerd a lot of the credit. I just thought they out-physicaled us. I just thought they got us on the glass, they got some stops and we couldn’t get the rebounds, and that was a problem.”

SLU came out firing in the second half.

Junior guard Jerrel Harris, who finished with a career-high 27 points, helped the Lions take back the lead with a layup in the opening seconds.

Harris and senior guard Marcus Ruh (18 points, seven rebounds) kept Eckerd from pulling away as the duo nailed four straight 3-pointers. However, the Tritons wouldn’t budge and sank five of their own.

“I was hoping for them to miss and for me to make everything,” said Harris, who came in averaging 14.1 points. “I just wanted to get that W, and I was on a roll and felt like I couldn’t miss it.”

Harris made three more 3-pointers in the final minute, including one from just past half court that cut the margin to one at the buzzer.

But it was too little, too late.

“We just really got to get tougher right now,” Harris said. “We’ve got to push each other, really. I don’t feel like we pushed each other enough today, and we just got to do it.”

Randall said his team missed an opportunity, but it will have to quickly put the loss behind it for the conference tournament where the Lions are the top seed.

“We’ve responded really well to losses that we’ve had this year and now, it’s going to be the one-and-done mentality,” Randall said. “It’s a painful thing. These guys missed out on a neat experience of cutting down the nets and doing all that stuff in front of your home crowd, but you’ve got to earn that, and we didn’t. Now, we’ll see if we can earn that in the conference tournament.”

SLU travels to the Silver Spurs Arena, 1875 Silver Spur Lane in Kissimmee, for the SSC tournament March 6 through March 9.

—Follow Jeff Odom on Twitter: @JOdomLaker

 

The Laker and the Lutz News has named The Laker/Lutz News team for the 2012-13 high school soccer season. Members were selected based on skill, value to their squad and final statistics. Teams in the coverage area include Academy at the Lakes, Bishop McLaughlin, Carrollwood Day, Freedom, Gaither, Land O’ Lakes, Steinbrenner, Sunlake, Wharton, Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch. The basketball and wrestling team will be released next week. Sports Editor Kyle LoJacono selected the team with help from Staff Writer Jeff Odom. Stats are as recorded to Maxpreps.com or provided by coaches, and all playoff performances are from the Florida High School Athletic Association.

 

Girls soccer first team

–Forward: A.J. Blount, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. The University of South Florida signee was a threat to shoot or pass with 25 goals and a team-high 22 assists.

–Forward: Ashni Deschenes, Sr., Wharton. The Stetson University signee led the Wildcats with 17 goals while adding four assists.

–Forward: Holly Nasello, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. The Point University signee began the year as a defender, but worked her way forward to score 12 goals with four assists.

–Forward: Jessica Taylor, So., Steinbrenner. The second-year starter was one of the most physical forwards in the area. She produced 17 goals and 18 assists.

–Midfielder: Leah Chisolm, Sr. Wharton. The Eckerd College signee was nearly impossible to knock off the ball. Scored 10 goals with nine assists.

–Midfielder: Anne Cypriano Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Contributed eight goals and five assists to the Bulls attack while playing with near perfect technique.

–Midfielder: Dani Eule, Jr., Steinbrenner. Scored 14 goals, had 10 assists and produced a plethora of bruised and discouraged opponents with her powerful play.

–Midfielder: Marley Opila, Sr., Steinbrenner. The University of North Florida signee used her quickness to assist on 15 goals while adding three tallies.

–Defender: Miranda Gonzalez, Jr., Steinbrenner. The University of Tampa commit solidified the Warriors’ backline after returning from a torn hamstring that robbed her of seven games. Scored twice with five assists.

–Defender: Lauren Gordon, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Held down the right defensive spot for a Bulls squad that allowed only 17 goals in 25 games.

–Defender: Megan Haraschak, Jr., Steinbrenner. The junior not only helped shut down the opposition but also pushed the attack to the tune of two goals and five assists.

–Defender: Carly Hill, Jr., Sunlake. Led the Seahawks with 251 steals while adding two goals and three assists for the first squad in program history to make the playoffs.

–Utility: Kelsey Bare, Sr., Wesley Chapel. The Saint Leo University signee played every position in the field while setting a single-season program record with 19 goals.

–Utility: Sam Lawrence, Sr., Wharton. The natural defender was forced to play most of the year at central midfielder to fill a team need, where she had five assists and two goals.

–Goalkeeper: Dayton Wetherby, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. The Navy signee showed skill and athleticism again this season, totaling 98 saves and 14 shutouts.

 

Girls soccer second team

–Forward: Danielle Darius, Fr., Steinbrenner. Added to a talented group of Warriors forwards as a freshman by scoring 10 goals while adding five assists.

–Forward: Vanessa Jordan, Fr., Wiregrass Ranch. Played well beyond her years. The freshman racked up 14 goals with three assists.

–Forward: Kameryn Kailimai, So., Land O’ Lakes. Possesses one of the area’s hardest shots, which she used to score 12 goals and set up another five.

–Forward: Taylor Müzik, So., Wiregrass Ranch. Added a big offensive punch in her first year on varsity with 12 goals and five assists.

–Midfielder: Ali Diioia, Sr., Freedom. Led the Warriors attack with 12 goals while posting four assists despite missing the first half of the season due to injury.

–Midfielder: Laura Johnson, Jr., Wharton. Helped Wharton’s offense go by contributing nine assists and seven goals.

–Midfielder: Hanna Seybold, Jr., Freedom. The outside midfielder used her speed and strength on the ball to the tune of seven goals and five assists.

–Midfielder: Brooke Silvest, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. Not only did she score 12 goals with four assists, but added a calm maturity to a very young Gators squad.

–Defender: Angela Anderson, Sr., Gaither. The best word to describe the senior’s play — physical. No chance any of her opponents would disagree.

–Defender: Casey Ferguson, Jr., Wharton. Held down the central defender spot for a Wharton squad that allowed just 21 goals in 23 games.

–Defender: Chloe Lipovetsky, Fr., Wiregrass Ranch. Not only did she start for the Bulls as a freshman, but contributed seven assists and two goals.

–Defender: Alex Schweitzer, Jr., Carrollwood Day. The central defender also led Carrollwood Day with 13 goals while posting 12 assists.

–Utility: Dana Jones, Jr., Freedom. A key piece of Freedom’s defense, but also moved up to help control the midfield in several contests.

–Utility: Cassidy Place, Jr., Sunlake. The Saint Leo University commit was not only a stifling defender (177 steals) but also added to the attack with eight goals and seven assists.

–Goalkeeper: Maya Kamat, Sr., Sunlake. Saved 86 shots with nine shutouts while being a consistent presence for the Seahawks.

 

Girls soccer honorable mention

–Forward: Tori Cannata, Fr., Wesley Chapel. Became a key scorer for Wesley Chapel with nine goals.

–Forward: Kim Devoe, So., Sunlake. Posted six goals and five assists to the Seahawks offense.

–Forward: Lexie Oeth, Jr., Wharton. The Plant transfer added an offensive punch to Wharton with 10 goals and two assists.

–Forward: Sarah Sprauge, Jr., Sunlake. Added seven goals and four assists to the Seahawks attack.

–Forward: Raquel Villareal, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. Moved from Texas and paid dividends for the Gators to the tune of six goals and three assists.

–Midfielder: Mitsy Audate, So., Land O’ Lakes. Moved to outside midfielder from the defense, and used her speed to score twice with three assists.

–Midfielder: Lauren Garris, Sr., Steinbrenner. Contributed three assists while locking down the opposition on the wing.

–Midfielder: Catherine Gray, Jr., Land O’ Lakes. Came through in several critical moments to score nine goals with six assists.

–Midfielder: Lauren Luzzi, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch. Helped set up the Bulls offense in the midfield with four assists while contributing two goals.

–Midfielder: Lacy Nasello, Fr., Land O’ Lakes. Became an instant force for the Gators with a team-high eight assists while adding five goals.

–Defender: Tori Drum, Sr., Wesley Chapel. Always in the right spot to block the opposition’s shots.

–Defender: Hannah Erdmann, Fr., Wiregrass Ranch. Moved up from junior varsity at the end of the year and showed she will be a strong central defender.

–Defender: Hayley Knowles, So., Gaither. The central defender was a key cog in the Cowboys’ defense-first mentality.

–Defender: Kelsey Huntzinger, Sr., Steinbrenner. Rounded out the Warriors’ backline while setting up two goals.

–Defender: Jade Torres, So., Wesley Chapel. Used her speed and fearless nature to stifle the opposition.

–Utility: Carli Gauthier, Fr., Carrollwood Day. A threat to shoot or pass, the freshman had a team-high 13 assists with 10 goals.

–Utility: Emily Higgins, Jr., Sunlake. Saw time at defender and midfielder while adding nine goals and five assists.

–Utility: Cassidy Kallenborn, So., Sunlake. Scored five goals with three assists while shifting between midfielder and forward.

–Utility: Camille King, Fr., Wiregrass Ranch. Led the Bulls junior varsity squad in goals, but made a bigger impact to the defense after being called up.

–Utility: Savanna Ronk, Fr., Land O’ Lakes. Slid to almost every position on the field while posting four goals and four assists.

–Goalkeeper: Amanda High, Jr., Gaither. Kept her Cowboys in multiple games this year with quickness and instinct.

–Goalkeeper: Jackie Vaughan, So., Freedom. Showed strong promise to develop into one of the area’s best keepers. Ended with 86 saves and two shutouts.

 

Player of the Year: Alexis Bredeau, Sr., Steinbrenner: The University of North Florida signee made this pick one of the easiest. Bredeau not only set a single-season program record with 34 goals this season, but she also led the Warriors with 19 assists. The forward and four-year starter did most of her damage in the second half of the season when the games had more meaning to help Steinbrenner make its fourth straight postseason.

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Berlin Waters, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. The Saint Leo University signee was one of the year’s smallest players at 5-foot, but she had a huge offensive skill set. The forward’s speed allowed her to run around or by defenders, and her relentless drive and strength on the ball made her a nightmare to stop. Waters ended the season with a team-high 29 goals while adding six assists.

 

Defensive Player of the Year: Hannah Eder, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Was an impact player all year long as a central defender despite having not played on the backline since the seventh grade. Eder, who had three assists, was a starting midfielder last season, but moved to defense to fill a team need, and the transition was made easier by her blinding speed, instincts and high soccer IQ.

 

Coach of the Year: Eddy Costa, Wiregrass Ranch. Costa had a tough task taking over the Bulls this season. He had a skilled group of returning players, but he brought in higher demands on technique, formation and commitment to training. Costa got his players to buy into the style to the tune of a 22-3 record, a district championship and a spot in the Class 4A regional semifinals.

 

Boys soccer first team

–Forward: Jason Collister, Sr., Steinbrenner. Led the Warriors’ offensive barrage with 28 goals while adding eight assists.

–Forward: Glenn Johnson, Fr., Land O’ Lakes. The freshman showed great promise as the Gators’ next big scoring threat with 13 goals and 12 assists.

–Forward: Jacob Spana, So., Wiregrass Ranch. Racked up a team-high 22 goals while kicking in six assists for the Bulls.

–Forward: Connor Spencer, So., Sunlake. Led the nation with 38 assists and posted 40 goals for Sunlake — and he’s only a sophomore.

–Midfielder: Enrique Barboto, Sr., Steinbrenner. The aggressive central midfielder totaled 15 goals and nine assists.

–Midfielder: Derek Gebhard, Sr., Steinbrenner. The Florida Gulf Coast commit missed much of the year for academic reasons, but returned for the final 10 games with 10 goals and two assists.

–Midfielder: Jonathan Lopez, Sr., Gaither. Never stopped in pushing the attack. Totaled nine goals and nine assists.

–Midfielder: Logan Siben, Sr., Steinbrenner. The outside midfielder used his speed to get by defenders to set up crosses, which resulted in a team-high 19 assists. Also had four goals.

–Defender: Aaron Aucoin, Jr., Sunlake. Aucoin is where offensive pressure went to die. Seemed to always make key stops while adding four goals and four assists.

–Defender: Stavi Garcia, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. The speedster not only stifled opposing offenses, he also pressed the attack with eight goals and three assists.

–Defender: Austin Goble, Jr., Sunlake. Didn’t lose his offensive touch when he moved from midfielder to sweeper, posting 14 goals and 18 assists.

–Defender: Justin Santos, Sr., Gaither. The Cowboys’ lockdown defender used his physical play to smother the opposition while scoring twice.

–Utility: Ryan Norberg, Jr., Sunlake. A central midfielder with a defensive mentality helped the Seahawks post 21 shutouts this year. He also added three assists and one goal.

 

–Utility: Bryce Wilson, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch. Comfortable at forward or midfielder, Wilson led Wiregrass Ranch with 33 assists while kicking in 17 tallies.

–Goalkeeper: Nate Brown, Jr., Freedom. The ultra-quick, ultra-competitive Brown made 49 saves with a goals against average of 1.37.

 

Boys soccer second team

–Forward: Jordan Dollbaum, So., Land O’ Lakes. Made quite an impact in his second season of high school soccer with 10 goals and four assists.

–Forward: Jhonatan Da Silva, So., Gaither. Played with the presence and poise of a senior in just his second high school season. Scored nine goals with two assists.

–Forward: Patrick Lawson, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Stepped up his game to replace several key graduates for the Gators to the tune of seven goals and 13 assists.

–Forward: Philippe Patino, Jr., Wharton. Wharton’s top offensive threat posted seven goals and three assists.

–Midfielder: Robert Castillo, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Racked up six goals and 10 assists, but his maturity and leadership were even more important to the Bulls.

–Midfielder: Michael Connell, Fr., Steinbrenner. Check the birth certificate because he doesn’t play like a freshman. Totaled 10 assists and one goal.

–Midfielder: Chris Wilkinson, So., Sunlake. The outside midfielder used his speed to cut to the net for 13 goals while assisting on 27 more tallies.

–Midfielder: Blake Wilson, Jr., Steinbrenner. The central midfielder helped the Warriors’ explosive offense with his nine goals and six assists.

–Defender: Jared Gremley, Sr., Gaither. Played several defensive positions for Gaither thanks to his speed and size.

–Defender: Andres Hernandez, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. The central defender was always in the right spot to make a key stop for the Bulls. Also had three goals.

–Defender: Noah Keene, Fr., Steinbrenner. Big, strong and physical all describe Keene’s game, who added one goal and two assists.

–Defender: Doug Nolting, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch. Wasn’t afraid to push the attack (seven goals, three assists) while holding down a key leadership role for Wiregrass Ranch.

–Utility: Tyler Helm, Sr., Gaither. Did almost everything for Gaither, including playing midfield and forward to the tune of six goals and four assists.

–Utility: Mitchell Oliveri, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Moved between midfielder and defender for the Bulls. Picked up five goals and six assists.

–Goalkeeper: Christian Knight, Jr., Steinbrenner. Limited to 15 games because of an FHSAA suspension for language, but still had 73 saves and a 0.93 goals against average.

 

Boys soccer honorable mention

–Forward: Kyle Custer, Sr., Wesley Chapel. An offensive threat on a depleted Wildcats squad (five goals, six assists).

–Forward: Brayan Polania Buitrago, Sr., Wesley Chapel. The other half of Wesley Chapel’s forward attack (six goals, two assists).

–Forward: Alex Stafford, Jr., Bishop McLaughlin. Led the Hurricanes in both goals (13) and assists (six).

–Forward: Daneill Thorpe, Sr., Freedom. Used his speed and quickness to weave through defenses to score four goals.

–Forward: Stephen Yaffe, Fr., Carrollwood Day. The Patriots may have a future offensive star in Yaffe (eight goals).

–Midfielder: Joey Ferrin, Jr., Wharton. Forced into the lineup after the graduation of several key starters and responded with four goals.

–Midfielder: Derik Harvey, Sr., Freedom. The Patriots most attack-minded player racked up seven goals and three assists.

–Midfielder: Mike Moran, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. Saved his best season for his last. Finished with 11 assists and six goals.

–Midfielder: Nicholas Ortiz, Fr., Gaither. Showed real promise as a dynamic offensive player with his seven assists and three goals.

–Midfielder: JJ Powers, Fr., Bishop McLaughlin. His last name is appropriate, as he powered his way to eight goals and two assists.

–Defender: Zack Dozack, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. Part of a balanced Bulls attack this season (five goals, four assists).

–Defender: Cody Lively, Sr., Steinbrenner. Showed his versatility by playing multiple positions while scoring three times.

–Defender: Josh Rodriguez, Jr., Steinbrenner. The physical outside defender helped lock down the opposition.

–Defender: Dino Tsilionis, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. One of the few Gators with much previous playing experience, which his squad leaned on throughout the year.

–Defender: Zachary Yarish, Jr., Steinbrenner. Part of a group of returning defensive nucleolus for the Warriors that frustrated the opposition.

–Utility: John Front, Jr., Carrollwood Day. A threat to shoot or pass, Front totaled eight goals and 11 assists.

–Utility: Tristan Hart, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch. The defender and midfielder added eight goals to the Bulls attack.

–Utility: Andrew Lao, So., Wesley Chapel. Played all three field positions for the Wildcats while leading the squad with 12 goals and eight assists.

–Utility: Sean Sourk, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch. Switched between midfielder and forward while scoring nine goals with four assists.

–Utility: Jeff Wright, Sr., Freedom. One of Freedom’s most explosive players. Moved between forward and midfielder to total three goals and five assists.

–Goalkeeper: Keenan Kushner, Sr., Wharton. The physically imposing Kushner made 31 saves with three shutouts.

–Goalkeeper: Aaron Shimer, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch. A torn ACL in his left knee cut his season short, but still had 45 saves, five shutouts and a goals against of 0.99.

 

Player of the Year: Connor Gilboy, Sr., Sunlake. The forward’s 60 goals this year not only set Pasco County’s single-season record, but also led the nation while adding 27 assists to the Seahawks attack. Gilboy was relentless in his approach to the game, constantly running to wear out the opposition while working as hard on the defensive end of the field as he did in the attacking zone.

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Sean Young, Sr., Land O’ Lakes. The University of North Florida signee was the focal point of Land O’ Lakes’ offense by posting a team-high 28 goals and 31 assists. The midfielder’s ability to shoot or pass kept the opposition guessing throughout the season. And to think, Young was a starting defender just one season ago.

 

Defensive Player of the Year: Danny Hrenko, Fr., Sunlake. It’s going to be hard for the goalkeeper to put up more impressive stats after what he did as a freshman. Hrenko led the nation with 21 shutouts while posting a goals against average of 0.3. He made up for his relatively small size with lightning quick reflexes and prophetic instincts to consistently turn away the opposition.

 

Coach of the Year: Chad Ebright, Steinbrenner. Ebright took his Warriors to the state championship game in his fourth-year at the helm. When Steinbrenner fell to Sickles in the district finals, he used it as motivation to get his squad playing at its highest level in its four-year history.

 

Girls weightlifting

–Catalina Valdes, So., Sunlake. Reached states and hoisted 295 total pounds to finish 11th in the 169-pound class.

–Stephanie Frances, Sr., Sunlake. The unlimited lifter posted 320 total pounds to finish 25th in the state.

 

Lifter of the Year: Alex Ruiz, Sr., Sunlake. The senior captures the award for the second straight year. Ruiz not only won the 119-pound state championship by hoisting a total of 330, she also set the division’s record in the bench press by lifting 180.

 

Coach of the Year: Denise Garcia, Sunlake. The Seahawks fifth-year coach helped get three student-athletes to the state meet. No other area program sent even one.

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

The Wharton boys basketball team started fast and finished strong against South Miami in the Class 8A state semifinals Mar. 1.

The Wildcats (25-5), however, were outdone by everything in-between.

Despite a dominating 11-2 run to open the game, Wharton’s offense went ice cold in the second and third quarters against the Cobras’ (28-2) aggressive defense en route to a 46-38 loss at the Lakeland Center.

“We just fell eight points short,” said Wildcats senior point guard CJ McGill (seven points). “I felt good at the time. I felt like we had a comfortable lead, and I felt like we had the game under control. They just jumped out on us.”

Wharton’s nine-point lead quickly evaporated with five turnovers in the second half of the opening period.

South Miami’s suffocating defense and height advantage forced the Wildcats to settle for outside shots that refused to fall, going 0-of-9 from the field during a 12-minute period that included the entire second quarter.

The Wildcats finished 14-of-42 from the field after hitting seven of their first 12 shots.

“Usually we knock down those shots,” McGill said. “For some reason, we just couldn’t get those.”

The Cobras had outscored Wharton 14-2 in the second quarter and went into halftime on a 25-7 run.

Wildcats coach Tommy Tonelli credited South Miami’s size, which included seven players 6-feet or taller, and its forcefulness in the paint.

“They got a little more aggressive on defense and pushed us out a little further offensively and out of our comfort zone of where we like to operate,” Tonelli said. “It kind of happened fast, too. We had some opportunities, and I don’t know. I don’t think we made a continuous run. We had shots. We had opportunities. We just couldn’t capitalize.”

Things didn’t get much better for Wharton in the third.

The Cobras sustained much of their dominant play throughout the period and pulled away to a 20-point lead before the Wildcats could even muster back-to-back buckets with 1:45 in the quarter.

Senior forward/guard Sir Patrick Reynolds (eight points, five rebounds) said there was nowhere to go against South Miami.

“They turned up their defensive pressure, and I don’t think we were ready for that yet,” Reynolds said. “We couldn’t adjust as fast as they were and as fast as we thought we should have, but like I said, we should have executed the little things.”

The Wildcats refused to exit silently.

Jaken Grier (13 points, four rebounds) led the fourth-quarter charge with a pair of free throws to open the period and kept up the pace with a 3-pointer and another charity shot to keep Wharton’s 18-4 run — and season — alive.

“I thought we got back into the game,” Tonelli said. “We got into the game, we had it down to six points with a timeout, and it was a two possession game. Anything could’ve happened.”

But it was simply too late.

South Miami’s best shooters Antravious Simmons (16 points, 15 rebounds) and Joseph Lopez (11 points) helped the Cobras eat up enough clock during the final two minutes to oust the Wildcats from their first state final four appearance in the program’s 16-year history.

Tonelli praised South Miami for its talent level.

“They were as good as advertised,” Tonelli said. “They’ve got excellent players at virtually every position on the floor. … They just play well as a team, and they did a great job, and I totally compliment and credit them for the job they did.”

Reynolds echoed his coach and added that he was grateful to be a part of the winningest senior class the Wildcats have ever had.

“I’ve been here all four years and I’ve witnessed all four district championships, but just this year was amazing for me,” Reynolds said. “I knew we were going to come this far. I knew we were going to try and push hard and come out with the win, but we couldn’t do that. We just fell short.”

—Follow Jeff Odom on Twitter: @JOdomLaker

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

First final four

Wharton boys basketball has been one of the most dominating during its 16-year history with its 10 playoff berths, seven district championships and a 340-115 record.

But for all its winning, there is one achievement that has eluded the Wildcats (25-5) — that is, until the 2012-13 season.

Wharton captured its first regional title by defeating Orlando University 41-39 Feb. 23, which also sent the Wildcats to their first final four.

Senior guard Jaken Grier (10.9 points) said the squad was special from the start.

“We went 14-0 in summer league, and making the final four was our goal from then,” Grier said. “Coach (Tommy) Tonelli made sure we knew that Wharton had never won regionals. At practice he’d point to the banner and he’d tell us, ‘Guys, I believe this 2012-13 team can be the first.’”

Tonelli started the program in 1997 and coached Wharton for all but the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons when he was an assistant at his alma mater, the University of South Florida.

“I wouldn’t have left the position I had at USF for just any high school job,” Tonelli said. “This place is special and always has been.”

Senior forward/guard Sir Patrick Reynolds (16.4 points, 5.7 rebounds) said it was thrilling to help Tonelli get his first regional title.

“To see him so excited after was really a great thing,” Reynolds said. “I love coach to death. He’s truly a great coach.”

Senior point guard CJ McGill (17.0 points, 5.7 assists) added, “It really felt like we did something to pay him back for all coach has done.”

Junior forward Chase Litton (10.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.7 blocks) was a fifth-grader watching from the scorer’s table when the Wildcats played for their first regional title.

“That team in 2007 was the best team that ever played here, and seeing them not get it was shocking,” Litton said. “It was heartbreaking, but it showed me what it takes to get there. … My freshman year we got there to the regional final; we went to Dr. Phillips and couldn’t get the job done. To finally get the job done was a great feeling, mainly for coach.”

Tonelli said he didn’t feel any pressure lifted after his squad broke through regionals.

“There are a lot of outstanding programs with outstanding coaches that never win a regional championship or even a district championship for that matter,” Tonelli said. “I know a lot of good coaches who, for whatever reason, haven’t won, and that doesn’t take away from how good they are.”

Tonelli did let loose after his squad defeated University. Not only did the usually reserved coach have tears and emotions pour out, he even danced in the middle of the gym as the sold out crowd cheered him on.

Reynolds was happy for his coach, but less than pleased with his postgame execution.

“His dancing, we’re working that,” Reynolds said with a laugh.

 

Smallest player, biggest fight

McGill became one of a few in Wildcats basketball history to start every game as a freshman.

The 5-foot-8 point guard’s quickness and decision making made up for his short basketball statue. He worked to take his game to the next level leading into his sophomore season.

Then it happened.

McGill tore the ACL in his right knee during a 3-on-3 game in a showcase event. He went up for a layup and another player ran into his leg.

“When it first happened I thought I was never going to heal,” McGill said. “I cried almost every night. I thought there was no hope, but coach had a talk with me about staying focused for my last two years. “

The injury robbed Wharton’s No. 4 of his sophomore season, but he returned for the first game of his junior campaign. He said the ACL tear made him stronger.

“It’s a very humbling experience,” McGill said. “I learned a lot, especially about patience.”

McGill started every game as a junior and senior and ends his high school career with a 76-11 record. He also became just the fourth player in program history to reach 1,000 career points, with the milestone coming in the regional semifinals at Sarasota Riverview Feb. 19.

“I had no idea when it happened,” McGill said. “Coach gave us the postgame speech, and at the end he said, ‘Oh, and this No. 4 is the fourth player in Wharton history to get 1,000 points.’ I was excited, but really I just wanted to win. … I thought there was no chance for me to get to 1,000 points after the ACL.”

McGill gave a lot of credit to his mother Dayna for helping him get back from the injury.

“She’s been through everything with me,” McGill said. “For my first game back last year she was the first one to hug me after the game, and same thing after we won the regional finals game. She’s been through it all with me, and I couldn’t have done it without her.”

 

Lesson learned

Litton said his most painful moment playing basketball wasn’t an injury.

It was sitting on the bench watching his squad lose in the first round of the playoffs last season.

Wharton rolled into the home contest off its third straight district title and with a 24-3 record. The Wildcats had visions of the final four in their minds, but upset-minded East Lake dashed those dreams 64-63.

The 6-foot-6 Litton was forced to the bench because of a criminal charge from the week before.

“I was sitting on the bench with coach Tonelli, and it was the worst feeling in the world,” Litton said. “There’s a difference between being injured and being in the situation I was in. It was completely my fault, and I had to pay for it. … When we lost that game I walked up to coach and I said, ‘I promise you next year we will be in Lakeland for the final four.’

“I told him I’ve got BFI — both feet in the circle,” Litton continued. “That means completely locked in, 100 percent all time. I felt like I had to do that to make up for last year.”

The title meant even more redemption for Litton.

The forward started as a freshman when the Wildcats made the regional finals. They trailed by 20 at Orlando Dr. Phillips but fought back to within one in the final minute. The Panthers stepped to the free throw line for a one-and-one.

“They missed their first free throw, and I didn’t box a guy out,” Litton said. “They got the rebound and we had to foul. They hit two free throws and we lost by three. I was thinking of that in the regional finals when I had that chance again.”

Litton didn’t let the opportunity slip away.

Wharton was clinging to a one-point lead in the regional finals against University in the final minute. Litton’s teammate Virgil Crump stepped to the line for a one-and-one, but missed the front half.

Litton slipped around University’s inside rebounder, snatched the ball with one hand and fired it back to a wide-open McGill, who was fouled and hit one of his free throws for the game’s final margin, 41-39.

“That haunted me for awhile, and I remember after the game assistant coach (Comer) Copeland said to me, ‘That was made for you,’” Litton said. “It felt like I made up for that play my freshman year. I did it for coach, I did it for my teammates and I did it for myself.”

Litton has finished all of his community service hours and has one more court meeting in April. After that, the charge will be permanently and completely off his record.

 

’Cats consistent presence

One of the most consistent of Wildcats isn’t a player or coach.

It’s Ishmael Perkins, a fan who never misses a home or road game.

Ishmael, a 16-year-old sophomore at Wharton, started sitting alongside the team last season.

Ishmael, who is wheelchair bound, said basketball is his favorite sport.

“I want to go into sports management to be a (general manger),” Ishmael said.

Ishmael’s father Kim said his son really enjoys being around the squad.

“He can’t play, so at least he can be a part by showing his support for the team,” Kim said.

The Wildcats players enjoy having Ishmael around so much that they had him hold the trophy they claimed by winning the Class 8A-District 7 title this year as they took a team photo.

“His mom messaged me before one of the games and said that one of his wishes was to get a picture with us,” Litton said. “I told her that we’d love to do that, because even though it was cool for him, it was even better for me to make him smile. He’s a huge fan of us, and I’m a huge fan of his.”

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Andy Warrener

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

 

Wesley Chapel wrestler Tony Ruggiero claimed a bit of school history in his final high school match.

The 120-pound senior not only became the first in program’s 14-year history to make a state title match, Ruggiero went out claiming the Class 1A championship.

Ruggiero finishes the season 42-5, with one of the losses coming to eventual 3A state champion Jared Prince of Palm Harbor.

The 5-foot-9 Ruggiero stood taller than most of those he faced this season. He said he grew seven inches since his freshman year, which didn’t compromise his balance acquired while participating in gymnastics when he was younger.

“(Ruggiero) is so hard to get on his back, he’s like a cat,” said first-year Wildcats coach Jeff Beson. “He’s got such good hips. He could be upside down and still in control.”

Ruggiero made regionals as a freshman. A knee injury limited him as a sophomore, but he improved enough to finish sixth in the state last season.

He hadn’t planned on altering his technique or training entering his senior year. Beson and assistant William Zeranski, a Wesley Chapel graduate, had other plans.

“At the beginning of the year, I didn’t want to change anything,” Ruggiero said. “Then coach Beson (and Zeranski) got me learning new moves I could use with my length.”

He picked up new moves like the dump, where a wrestler lifts his opponent’s thigh to throw them to the ground.

Ruggiero is a relative newcomer to wrestling. He was introduced to the sport in eighth grade by former teammate Nick Popolillo, who graduated last year.

Beson said Ruggiero’s tenacity makes him a natural.

“He always had that fighting spirit,” Beson said. “It’s been his calling card.”

The Wildcats have had several coaches during Ruggiero’s four years. Brian Simmons had two stints as their leader but an active commitment to the Army Reserves kept him in and out of the gym and unable to commit long-term. Beson, also an Army Reservist, had commitments of his own, but he decided to step in anyway.

“It was a blessing that he stepped up,” Ruggiero said.

Ruggiero faced several difficult opponents at states.

After a tech pin in his first round match, Ruggiero drew top-10 ranked Troy Reed of Fivay. Ruggiero escaped with an 8-6 victory in what he called his toughest match of the tournament.

He beat Vic Blasucci of Somerset 10-7 to advance to the title match against Doral Academy’s Chris Moren.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been that scared,” Ruggiero said. “I’d always been in the bleachers at this point. Now I was walking in as a finalist.”

The culmination of years of hard work and cutting weight were on the line as Ruggiero was introduced.

Ruggiero took the mat and defeated Moreno 6-5.

“(Being on the podium) was the best feeling ever,” Ruggiero said. “I never minded being the underdog. … I couldn’t have asked for a better way to go out. It’s cool to walk around school and people ask you about it.”